How Effective Leaders Learn from Life

How Effective Leaders Learn from Life: A Grounded Theory Study of the Impact of Signicant Life Experiences Upon Leadership Development - "Fifteen effective leaders from diverse organizational backgrounds described their significant life experiences and the impact upon their development as leaders. ... Six propositions emerged from the data:

(1) the influence of family plays a significant role in the response of leaders to life experiences;

(2) learning from significant life experiences provides a valuable foundation of case-based knowledge that leaders can utilize in times of uncertainty and change;

(3) significant life experiences can serve as the trigger point for the development of Authentic Leadership;

(4) significant life experiences can provide a means for developing Emotional Intelligence within leaders;

(5) the strategy of reflection used by leaders in significant life experiences can be utilized as an effective learning tool in leadership development; and

(6) significant life experiences, as related in this study, may serve as means to develop the Servant Leadership characteristics of altruistic calling, emotional healing and wisdom."